Can anyone explain it to me...I'm sure it's simple. Colby signed w/ ECHL Utah Grizzlies.... (Calgary) While the Nailers are affiliates of both Montreal and Pittsburgh. Did Wheeling have to agree and/or pass on him first? I know his brother plays @ Utah but that's besides the point.

I don't understand your question...and I think you already answered it. What does Wheeling have to do with this? They don't own his rights, players that are not on entry-level deals cannot be assigned to the ECHL without their permission (and it's way too late for that, given that there's no NHL governing body to move him anywhere). He's a free agent as far as the rest of the world views it and the team that he picked that could accomodate him is Utah.

To the OP, the Canadiens would have been the ones that had to assign him to Wheeling. Obviously, with the league locked out, that isn't possible.

However, I thought I read somewhere that Utah had already had their 4 veteran max when Colby signed on. I'm not gonna try to add games while on an ipad, but I'll try to dig it up later. Riley had to be over the 260 game limit, Brad Mills has to be over or at least close. Colby has probably doubled that with his NHL and AHL totals.

Career totals for those under the veteran rule. All totals are from the completion of the 2011-12 seasonNick Tuzzolino: 352 gamesRiley Armstrong: 400 games in the AHLBrad Mills: 299 games in the AHL, NHL, and ECHLEvan Stoflet: 278 gamesTheo Peckham 303 games, Peckham has been suspended by the team since 11/19. Can't find any info what the suspension is for.

I just now bothered to look up whether Riley Armstrong is Colby's brother, and indeed he is his younger brother. This is a big deal for Utah. Yes they are in last place, but imagine the instant, natural chemistry boost they are about to get. Armstrong squared? Sounds like a championship season to me.

Dickie Dunn wrote:I just now bothered to look up whether Riley Armstrong is Colby's brother, and indeed he is his younger brother. This is a big deal for Utah. Yes they are in last place, but imagine the instant, natural chemistry boost they are about to get. Armstrong squared? Sounds like a championship season to me.

Dickie Dunn said it! It's got to be true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!